Ministry of Justice of Germany facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Federal Ministry of Justice

Bundesministerium der Justiz
Agency overview
Formed	1 January 1877 as the Reichsjustizamt
Jurisdiction	Government of Germany
Headquarters	Berlin
Employees	620
Minister responsible	Heiko Maas Bundesministerin der Justiz
Website	bmj.bund.de

The Federal Ministry of Justice is an important part of the German government. It helps make sure that laws in Germany are fair and followed correctly. Think of it as the main office for all things related to justice in the country.

A Look Back: History of Justice

Germany has five very old and important government departments. These are sometimes called "Classic Ministries." They are a bit like the oldest and most central offices in other countries.

The five classic ministries are:

• Justice
• Interior (dealing with internal affairs)
• Finance (managing money)
• Defence (for the military)
• the Foreign Office (for international relations)

The office that became the Ministry of Justice started in 1875. It was first part of the Chancellor's department. Then, on January 1, 1877, it became its own independent office. The very first Minister of Justice was chosen in 1919. This was when the office officially became the Reichsministerium der Justiz during the time of the Weimar Republic.

What the Ministry Does

Who Leads the Ministry?

The Federal Minister of Justice is in charge of the whole Ministry. This person is a top politician. They have two main helpers:

• The Parliamentary State Secretary: This person is a member of the German parliament, called the Bundestag. They act like a "junior minister," helping the main Minister.
• The "beamteter Staatssekretär": This is the most senior civil servant in the Ministry. They are a permanent expert who helps run the department every day.

The Ministry's Important Role

Germany is a federal country. This means it's made up of many different states. Each state has some power to make its own rules. Because of this, managing justice and catching criminals is mostly handled by these individual German states.

So, what does the Federal Ministry of Justice do? Its main job is to make sure that all laws, both from the federal government and the states, follow the "Rule of Law." This means everyone, including the government, must obey the laws. It ensures that justice is applied fairly to everyone.

The Ministry helps write new laws. It also looks at old laws to see if they need to be changed or removed. This work covers many areas, such as:

• Civil law: Rules for everyday life, like contracts or family matters.
• Criminal law: Laws about crimes and punishments.
• Commercial and Company law: Rules for businesses and companies.
• Copyright and protecting industrial property rights: Laws that protect ideas, inventions, and creative works.
• Organisation and procedures of the courts: How courts work and are set up. (But not the courts for workers' rights or social security).

The Ministry also looks after the rules for people who want to become judges, prosecutors, lawyers, or notaries. They make sure these professionals are properly qualified.

After the reunification of Germany, the Ministry had a big job. It had to fix many legal problems that came from combining East and West Germany. This meant changing many criminal and administrative laws. It also helped people like judges and lawyers who had worked in the old communist system learn the new ways.

Finally, the Ministry checks all new laws and rules proposed by other government departments. It makes sure they do not go against the German constitution. The Ministry also publishes official government newspapers like the "Bundesgesetzblatt" (Federal Law Gazette). It also helps choose judges for Germany's highest courts.

Leaders of Justice: Ministers Since 1949

Here is a list of the people who have served as Federal Ministers of Justice since 1949: